Elders/Shepherds

 

I. Purpose and Framing

• Intended as an internal, pastoral reflection tool rather than a public evaluative instrument
• Aims at awareness, encouragement, and growth among pastors and elders
• Emphasizes discernment and Berean vigilance, even when using modern tools
• Rooted explicitly in a Covenantal Reformed theological framework

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II. The Shepherd Metaphor in Covenantal Reformed Theology

A. Theological Foundation

• The Church as the New Covenant flock of God
• Christ as the Chief Shepherd; elders as accountable under-shepherds
• Continuity between Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church
• Linguistic and functional unity of pastor, elder, overseer, and shepherd

B. Biblical Background

• Yahweh as Shepherd of Israel (e.g., Psalms, Ezekiel)
• Fulfillment of shepherd imagery in Christ
• Extension of shepherding responsibility to church officers

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III. Job Description of the Literal Shepherd

A. Context

• Ancient Near Eastern shepherding as the controlling background for the metaphor

B. Primary Duties

1. Feeding – securing daily physical nourishment
2. Protection – defending against predators and thieves
3. Guidance – leading along safe and productive paths
4. Healing and Rescue – caring for the injured and recovering the lost
5. Intimate Knowledge – knowing individual sheep personally

C. Character of the Role

• Physical proximity
• Constant vigilance
• Sacrificial and often dangerous labor

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IV. Job Description of the Church Elder (Under-Shepherd)

A. Stewardship Principle

• The flock belongs to God, not the elder
• Authority is delegated, not possessed

B. Primary Duties

1. Feeding – preaching and teaching the Word
2. Protection – guarding against false doctrine and moral corruption
3. Guidance – discipleship, counsel, and modeled godliness
4. Healing and Rescue – restoration of the afflicted and wandering
5. Oversight – servant-leadership in governance and care

C. Manner of Service

• Willing, eager, exemplary
• Free from domination, compulsion, or self-interest

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V. Side-by-Side Comparison

A. Areas Compared

• Nature of the flock
• Type of sustenance
• Nature of threats
• Method of leading
• Rescue and healing
• Source of authority
• End goals
• Compensation
• Accountability

B. Central Contrast

• Temporal vs. eternal focus
• Physical survival vs. spiritual maturity and faithfulness

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VI. Key Overlaps Between the Two Roles

1. Sacrificial love
2. Intimate knowledge of the flock
3. Vigilant watchfulness
4. Active pursuit of the lost

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VII. Key Distinctions in the Covenantal Reformed View

1. Weaponry
   • Physical tools vs. spiritual means (Word, discipline, prayer)
2. Ownership
   • Human ownership vs. divine possession purchased by Christ
3. Outcome
   • Temporal productivity vs. faithfulness and sanctification
   • Final evaluation deferred to the appearance of the Chief Shepherd

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Summary of Key Elements

At its heart, this comparison argues that church leadership is not a managerial role but a shepherding vocation, patterned after the concrete realities of ancient shepherding and elevated to eternal significance under the New Covenant.

The literal shepherd provides the lived, historical framework: total responsibility, constant presence, personal knowledge, and sacrificial risk for the well-being of vulnerable sheep in a hostile environment.

The church elder, as an under-shepherd, carries these same relational and moral demands but applies them to the spiritual and eternal welfare of God’s covenant people. Feeding, protecting, guiding, healing, and pursuing remain the core tasks, though the means are spiritual rather than physical.

The overlaps underscore the shared heart posture: love, vigilance, knowledge, and pursuit. The distinctions guard against clerical overreach, reminding elders that:

• the flock is not theirs,
• their authority is ministerial, not proprietary,
• and their success is measured by faithfulness, not visible outcomes.

Taken together, this framework offers a sobering yet hopeful lens for self-examination—well suited for internal assessment, mutual encouragement, and renewed dependence on the Chief Shepherd, whose appearing alone brings final vindication.

Ark of the Covenant

 

The Ark of the Covenant: God’s Holy Dwelling Among His People

Few objects in Scripture capture the imagination and spiritual gravity of believers quite like the Ark of the Covenant. Revered, mysterious, and profoundly sacred, the Ark stands at the heart of Israel’s worship and continues to shape both Jewish and Christian theology. More than a relic, it represents God’s nearness, holiness, and covenantal faithfulness.

When we talk about “The Ark” in the Bible, we could either be talking about the Ark of the Covenant, or Noah’s Ark. The funny thing is that even though we use the same word in English, the words in Hebrew are different. Yet, the description of detailed instructions that God gave Noah about how to build the ark feels decidedly similar to the intricate description that God gave Moses about how to construct the Ark of the Covenant.

Like so many important themes in Scripture, the echoes we hear from story to story should alert us to a deliberate parallel. The theme of salvation resonates between the two ark-building enterprises. But there’s more. The word for Noah’s Ark, “ta-va”, is used only one other time in the Bible, and it’s interesting to see where we find the other "ta-va".

Are there more than two “Arks” in the Bible?

The floating zoo is a “ta-va” in Hebrew, but the Ark of the Covenant is an “aron”, which means chest. In Hebrew today an “aron” can refer to a cupboard – essentially a storage container for a collection of items. Intriguingly, the word ta-va (like Noah’s ta-va) is used twice in the Bible: Not only did it refer to the enormous boat, but also to the small cradle, in which a vulnerable but priceless baby was laid, and sent off on the water to an unknown destiny. Moses’ basket is called an “ark” in Hebrew. A ta-va. You can see the similarities between the ark that carried the remains of humanity that were worth saving along with the bare essentials to reestablish the animal kingdom, and the “ark” that carried Moses, who was to be a savior figure – a prelude to the ultimate Messiah, both floating perilously off into the future. Both were absolutely critical for the future of humanity, and both carried great treasures.

Origin: A Divine Blueprint

The Ark’s story begins at Mount Sinai, shortly after Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. In the book of Exodus, God gives Moses precise instructions for constructing the Ark as part of the Tabernacle—the portable sanctuary that would accompany Israel through the wilderness.¹

Crafted from acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, the Ark was both beautiful and formidable. Its lid, known as the mercy seat (kapporet), was flanked by two golden cherubim. It was here, God said, that He would meet with Moses.² The Ark was not an object of worship in itself; rather, it was the earthly footstool of the invisible God.³

Contents: Testimony of the Covenant

According to Scripture, the Ark contained three sacred items:

• The stone tablets of the Law, inscribed with the Ten Commandments⁴
• A golden jar of manna, recalling God’s provision in the wilderness⁵
• Aaron’s rod that budded, a sign of God’s chosen priesthood⁶

As noted in Hebrews 9, these items collectively bore witness to God’s law, provision, and ordained leadership.⁷ Together, they told the story of a God who guides, sustains, and dwells with His people.

Travels: From Wilderness to Kingdom

The Ark’s journey mirrors Israel’s own spiritual pilgrimage. It led the people through the Jordan River into the Promised Land,⁸ preceded them around Jericho’s walls,⁹ and was carried into battle as a reminder that victory belonged to the Lord.¹⁰

Eventually, the Ark found a resting place in Jerusalem when King David brought it there with great rejoicing.¹¹ His son Solomon later placed it in the Holy of Holies within the Temple, the most sacred space in Israel’s worship.¹² After the Babylonian conquest, the Ark disappears from the biblical record—its fate unknown, adding to its enduring mystique.¹³

Significance in Jewish Faith

In Judaism, the Ark represents the covenant (berit)—the binding relationship between God and Israel. It underscores God’s holiness and the seriousness of approaching Him with reverence and obedience.¹⁴ Even today, synagogue Torah arks symbolically echo the Ark of the Covenant, reminding worshipers of God’s revealed Word and abiding presence.

Significance in Christian Faith

For Christians, the Ark also points forward. The mercy seat, where sacrificial blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement, finds deeper meaning in Christ’s atoning work.¹⁵ The New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law, the true Bread from Heaven, and the Great High Priest.¹⁶

Many Christian theologians also see typological echoes of the Ark in Christ Himself—and even in Mary, who bore the incarnate Word.¹⁷ These reflections are not meant to diminish the Ark’s historical reality, but to deepen its theological resonance.

A Living Reminder

Though the physical Ark may be lost to history, its spiritual message endures. It reminds us that God chooses to dwell with His people—not because of their perfection, but because of His grace.¹⁸ The Ark calls us to reverence, trust, and awe before a holy God who desires relationship.

In a world often marked by distraction and noise, the Ark of the Covenant quietly invites us back to the center: the presence of God, faithfully abiding with those who seek Him.¹⁹

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Scriptural Footnotes

1. Exodus 25:10–22
2. Exodus 25:22
3. 1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalm 99:5
4. Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:1–5
5. Exodus 16:32–34
6. Numbers 17:1–10
7. Hebrews 9:3–5
8. Joshua 3:14–17
9. Joshua 6:1–20
10. 1 Samuel 4:3–11 (with theological caution implied by outcome)
11. 2 Samuel 6:12–15
12. 1 Kings 8:1–11
13. Jeremiah 3:16; 2 Chronicles 36
14. Leviticus 16; Numbers 4:15
15. Leviticus 16:14–15; Romans 3:25
16. Matthew 5:17; John 6:32–35; Hebrews 4:14–16
17. Luke 1:35, 43; John 1:14; Revelation 11:19–12:1 (typological reading)
18. Exodus 29:45–46
19. James 4:8; Revelation 21:3

Sermon 131

 

Augustine's Sermon 131 is often referenced for the phrase “Roma locuta est, causa finita est”, which translates to "Rome has spoken; the case is closed." However, this exact phrase is not found in his writings and is often misattributed; it reflects the authority of the Bishop of Rome in theological disputes, particularly against Pelagianism.

Review of Great Dialogues of Plato

Great Dialogues of Plato gathers several of the most influential philosophical conversations written by Plato, presenting them in dramatic form rather than as abstract treatises. These dialogues remain foundational texts for Western philosophy, ethics, political theory, and theology, and they continue to shape how we think about truth, virtue, justice, and the good life.

Main Characters

At the heart of nearly every dialogue stands Socrates, Plato’s teacher and philosophical model. Socrates is not portrayed as a lecturer but as a relentless questioner—patient, ironic, and deeply committed to uncovering truth through dialogue. Around him appear a wide range of interlocutors:

• Glaucon and Adeimantus – earnest seekers of justice and moral clarity
• Thrasymachus – a sharp, cynical voice arguing that power defines justice
• Phaedrus – interested in rhetoric, love, and the soul
• Alcibiades – brilliant, ambitious, and morally conflicted
• Meno – puzzled by virtue and the nature of learning

These figures are not merely characters; they represent enduring human attitudes—idealism, skepticism, ambition, confusion, and moral longing.

Major Dialogues and Themes

While editions vary, collections typically include dialogues such as:

• The Republic – justice, political order, the philosopher-king, and the Form of the Good
• Symposium – love (eros), beauty, and ascent of the soul
• Apology – moral courage, truth, and obedience to conscience
• Meno – virtue, knowledge, and recollection
• Phaedo – the immortality of the soul and death as philosophical fulfillment

Across these works, several unifying themes emerge:

• The pursuit of truth through reasoned dialogue
• The nature of virtue and moral excellence
• The soul’s orientation toward the Good
• The tension between appearance and reality
• Education as moral formation, not mere information

Primary Message of the Work

The central message of Great Dialogues of Plato is that the unexamined life is not worthy of human dignity. Plato insists that truth is not imposed by authority or tradition but discovered through humble, disciplined questioning. Wisdom begins with recognizing one’s ignorance and grows through dialogue aimed at the good of the soul.

Equally important is Plato’s conviction that justice and virtue are objective realities, not social conventions. A just society, like a well-ordered soul, requires harmony, moral leadership, and a vision of the good that transcends self-interest.

Conclusion

Great Dialogues of Plato concludes not with tidy answers, but with a transformed reader. Plato does not hand us doctrines so much as he trains us in a way of thinking—and living. His dialogues invite patience, moral seriousness, and intellectual humility.

For readers shaped by ethical reflection, legal reasoning, or theological inquiry, Plato’s work feels strikingly familiar: a reminder that truth is relational, moral reasoning is formative, and wisdom ultimately serves the flourishing of the soul. The dialogues endure because they do not merely inform the mind—they call the whole person toward truth, goodness, and justice.

Review of The Republic by Plato

 

The Republic stands as one of the most influential works in Western philosophy. Written as a dialogue, it explores the nature of justice, the structure of a good society, and the formation of a virtuous soul. Rather than presenting abstract theory alone, Plato invites the reader into a lively conversation that unfolds with moral, political, and spiritual depth.

Main Characters

• Socrates – The central figure and primary voice of inquiry. Socrates guides the discussion through probing questions rather than dogmatic assertions, embodying the philosophical method itself.
• Glaucon – A passionate and idealistic interlocutor who challenges Socrates to defend justice not merely for its rewards, but for its intrinsic goodness.
• Adeimantus – More cautious than Glaucon, he presses Socrates on the moral education of citizens and the dangers of corruption in culture and upbringing.
• Thrasymachus – An aggressive skeptic who argues that justice is simply the advantage of the stronger, forcing Socrates to confront a cynical and power-centered view of human life.

Major Themes

Justice

The central question of the book is deceptively simple: What is justice? Plato ultimately defines justice as harmony—both within the soul and within society—where each part fulfills its proper role.

The Just Soul and the Just State

Plato famously parallels the structure of the individual soul with that of an ideal city. Reason rules, spirit supports, and appetite obeys. A just society mirrors a well-ordered inner life.

Education and Moral Formation

Education is not merely the transmission of information but the shaping of character. Music, poetry, physical training, and philosophy all serve to orient the soul toward truth and goodness.

The Allegory of the Cave

Perhaps the most enduring image in the book, the cave depicts humanity’s captivity to illusion and the painful journey toward enlightenment. Knowledge, once gained, carries moral responsibility.

Philosopher-Kings

Plato controversially argues that societies will know peace only when philosophers rule—or rulers become philosophers—because only those who love wisdom are fit to govern justly.

Primary Message

At its heart, The Republic teaches that justice is not merely a social contract or a tool for stability, but a condition of the soul aligned with truth and goodness. A life ordered by wisdom is happier and more fulfilled than one driven by power, pleasure, or reputation. Plato insists that moral integrity and genuine happiness are inseparable.

Conclusion

The dialogue concludes by reaffirming that justice is worth pursuing for its own sake. In the final myth of Er, Plato underscores the eternal significance of moral choice, suggesting that the shape of one’s soul has consequences beyond this life. The message is ultimately hopeful: human beings are capable of growth, illumination, and transformation when they turn toward truth.

The Republic remains compelling not because it offers easy answers, but because it invites readers—across centuries—to examine their lives, their societies, and the ultimate ends they serve.

 

Is There Biblical Evidence that Jesus Encouraged Any Person to Attend Either Temple or Church?

 

The Bible does not explicitly mandate that Jesus encouraged attendance at a temple or church as we understand it today. Instead, Jesus emphasized the importance of community and relationships among believers, suggesting that the essence of "church" is about gathering as a community rather than attending a specific building.

Original Sin

 A thoughtful way into this question is to distinguish what redemption heals decisively from what it begins to heal progressively. The apparent tension dissolves once we stop treating “the removal of original sin” as equivalent to the immediate completion of moral transformation.

Original sin as condition, not merely behavior

In classical Christian thought, original sin is not simply a catalogue of bad inclinations but a condition of alienation—a rupture in right relationship with God that distorts perception, desire, and trust. At redemption, that condition is genuinely addressed. The believer is reconciled, adopted, and reoriented toward God. Guilt is removed; condemnation is lifted; the status of estrangement is ended.

Yet removal of original sin in this sense does not imply the erasure of every internal consequence that developed under its reign. A forgiven disease is not the same as a healed nervous system.

The persistence of disordered patterns

Sin after redemption does not arise from a remaining “taint” in the juridical sense, but from habituated distortions—patterns of thought, affect, and action that were learned and reinforced prior to, and even after, conversion. Scripture regularly names this reality as “the flesh,” not as a substance but as a mode of life shaped by fear, scarcity, and self-protection.

Redemption reorients the self at its center, but it does not instantly dismantle the neurological, psychological, and relational grooves carved over years. These patterns can continue to operate even when the heart’s fundamental allegiance has changed. One might say the root has been healed, but the soil still bears weeds.

Divided consciousness rather than divided loyalty

The Christian who sins is not best understood as choosing rebellion over obedience, but as acting from partial integration. The mind knows one thing, the embodied self reflexively does another. Paul’s language in Romans 7 is not a denial of redemption but a phenomenology of it: the self awakened to God now perceives, often painfully, the mismatch between intention and enactment.

This is not hypocrisy; it is exposure.

Salvation as inaugurated, not exhausted

The New Testament consistently frames salvation as both accomplished and unfolding. Justification is decisive; sanctification is participatory. Redemption restores communion with God, but the restoration of the person into full coherence—emotionally, relationally, somatically—takes time and cooperation with grace.

If sin were impossible after redemption, growth would be unnecessary, repentance obsolete, and perseverance meaningless. The Christian life would collapse into a single moment rather than a lived transformation.

Grace does not bypass embodiment

Finally, grace does not annihilate the human condition; it heals it from within. Christians continue to live in bodies marked by stress responses, memory, trauma, and social formation. Sin can emerge not from defiance but from exhaustion, fear, or misperception. Redemption does not remove vulnerability; it gives it a new horizon.

In this light, post-redemption sin is not evidence that original sin remains, but that healing is relational and temporal, not mechanical. The miracle is not that Christians never sin, but that sin no longer defines who they are—or where they are going.